Incubation is a tactical turn-based science-fiction wargame. It is the fourth game in the Battle Isle series. This time the action takes place in the confined spaces of the colonial city of Scay Hallwa, as the players' space marines fight a desperate battles against the Scay'Ger (indigenous creatures turned into berserk monsters by a human virus), while trying to evacuate the remaining colonists.

The game uses a 3D engine, with several camera views available (3rd person or 1st person). Battles are turn-based, each soldier having a set number of action points to expend each turn. Each soldier has different statistics (which improve after each mission) and gear.

The game also includes a multiplayer game which allows up to four players to play together, each leading a different squad.